Zheng said the drills will simulate what will take place when
the Olympics begin on Aug. 8, 2008. He said summer provided the
last chance for meteorologists to practice under similar weather
conditions.

Chinese officials have said historical records show there's a 50
percent chance of rain for the opening ceremony -- and the same
probability of rain during the closing ceremony.

Last month, a top-ranking weather official acknowledged that
seeding clouds to produce rain -- and dispersing rainmaking clouds --
was immature technology.

"Dispersal is more difficult than rainfall enhancement," said
Wang Yubin, assistant chief engineer with the Beijing
Meteorological Bureau. "In rainfall dispersal, we are still in the
experimental stage but we are continuing our efforts."